Computer engineering [h1.location_city]

Job Description

Description

Leidos Security Enterprise Solutions (SES) has an opening for Principal System Engineer to act as an IMS instrument system lead to support the system-level sustainment and advancement of fielded Ion Mobility Spectrometer instruments, and the design, development, integration, verification / validation, and transition-to-fielding of next-generation analytical instruments based on Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS).

Leidos is seeking an experienced scientist / engineer to lead the instrument systems engineering and system design of advanced IMS / MS-based instruments. The successful candidate will be responsible for technical planning, instrument architecture and requirements development, multi-disciplinary design coordination, and technical leadership across the full product lifecycle—from concept development through prototype builds and test, to sustained engineering support.

This role includes evaluating design alternatives (including technical risk, supportability, and performance), leading technical trade studies, and ensuring alignment across scientific, mechanical, electrical, firmware, and software development to deliver robust, high-performance instruments.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead system-level instrument architecture and design for IMS instruments, including decomposition into subsystems, interfaces, and verification strategies.
• Coordinate and lead the efforts of science and engineering teams on multidisciplinary projects, ensuring alignment across chemistry, physics, mechanical, electrical, firmware, and software development.
• Translate customer and mission needs into clear, testable system requirements, including allocation to subsystems and definition of interfaces and performance budgets.
• Develop and maintain an organized engineering roadmap and technical baseline for instrument development and sustaining activities.
• Perform (and / or lead) functional analysis, timeline analysis, trade studies, risk assessments, and requirements traceability to guide design decisions.
• Provide system-level design input to scientific, mechanical, electrical, and software teams—ensuring that instrument performance, reliability, and testability are built in from the start.
• Plan and lead integration, test, verification, and validation activities, including defining test approaches, troubleshooting cross-domain issues, and closing performance gaps.
• Establish and manage system configuration baselines, versioning, and change control; initiate and execute engineering change efforts to sustain and evolve the instrument.
• Mentor and guide other scientists and engineers; promote strong engineering rigor, documentation discipline, and effective design-review practices.
• Collaborate with program leadership and stakeholders to balance performance, cost, schedule, manufacturability, reliability, and supportability.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS :

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS :

Come break things (in a good way). Then build them smarter.

We're the tech company everyone calls when things get weird. We don’t wear capes (they’re a safety hazard), but we do solve high-stakes problems with code, caffeine, and a healthy disregard for “how it’s always been done.”

Original Posting : December 29, 2025

For U.S. Positions : While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

Pay Range : Pay Range $131,300.00 - $237,350.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

About Leidos

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

Pay and Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available at www.leidos.com / careers / pay -benefits.

Securing Your Data

Beware of fake employment opportunities using Leidos’ name. Leidos will never ask you to provide payment-related information during any part of the employment application process (i.e., ask you for money), nor will Leidos ever advance money as part of the hiring process (i.e., send you a check or money order before doing any work). Further, Leidos will only communicate with you through emails that are generated by the Leidos.com automated system – never from free commercial services (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail) or via WhatsApp, Telegram, etc. If you received an email purporting to be from Leidos that asks for payment-related information or any other personal information (e.g., about you or your previous employer), and you are concerned about its legitimacy, please make us aware immediately by emailing us at LeidosCareersFraud@leidos.com.

If you believe you are the victim of a scam, contact your local law enforcement and report the incident to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.